Named by Jean-Claude Delamétherie in 1798 for the supposed type locality, "Andalusia region", Spain, although he seems to have been not very familiar with spanish geography and the type locality is not in Andalusia.

Andalusite was first analysed by Werner on specimens coming from Spain. Both Werner and Delamétherie believed that the specimens came from Andalusia, which is why the latter named it "andalusite". However, it seems that the analyzed specimens came from El Cardoso (Guadalajara), a town they erroneously thought to be in Andalusia. Consequently the type locality must be considered El Cardoso, probably the outcrop located in Zahurdon. The error was perpetuated by other later authors, who considered that the origin was the province of Almeria, and remained so in the majority of books, even in modern ones. Furthermore, andalusite had already been known previously, and even been described, in its chiastolite variety, by a Spanish author, Torrubia, in 1754. The description was published in a famous book, "Aparato para la Historia Natural Española", in which aragonite also appears. In both cases the descriptions are accompanied by illustrations that depict both minerals unmistakably. (See the article by Dr. Miguel Calvo, "Minerales que tienen en España su localidad tipo" - http://milksci.unizar.es/miner/mineralesp/tipo.html

Type Occurrence of Andalusite

Occurrences of Andalusite

Geological Setting:

A result of contact metamorphism of argillaceous sediments, also in regionally metamorphosed schists. Rare in granites and pegmatites, which however afford the largest crystals. Detrital in some sandstones.

As euhedral crystals or columnar aggregates having nearly square cross sections, commonly elongated parallel to [001], to 20 cm. Crystals may be much interrupted due to intersection with outer minerals. Also fibrous, compact, massive.

Localities for Andalusite

map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality.
The symbol next to localities in the list
can be used to jump to that position on the map.

(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.

Bøe, P. (1974): Petrography of the Gula group in Hessdalen, southeastern Trondheim region, with special reference to the paragonitization of andalusite pseudomorphs. Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse. 304, 33-46

Bøe, P. (1974): Petrography of the Gula group in Hessdalen, southeastern Trondheim region, with special reference to the paragonitization of andalusite pseudomorphs. Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse. 304, 33-46

Januzzi, Ronald E. and David Seaman. (1976): Mineral Localities of Connecticut and Southeastern New York State and Pegmatite Minerals of the World. The Mineralogical Press, Danbury, Connecticut.; Januzzi, Ronald E. (1994): Mineral Data Book - Western Connecticut and Environs. Mineralogical Press, Danbury, Connecticut.